Internet Music Videos: Are Some Killing The Message Of Healthy Human Sexuality

Although in my 50’s, I still consider myself to be very open minded about everything associated to “entertainment” (in all its forms) and its access by youth and young adults. As music video continues to push the norm, specific to language and sexuality, what kind of cause and effect are some forms of entertainment having on our kids at an emotional, psychological and even physical level. The research out there has proven a strong correlation specific to music and music videos, and its sometimes negative effects on beliefs and actions

What spawned this posting are two videos that were presently released and who’s targeted audience are teens and young adults, given this is the cohort (fan base) that most arguably follow these two artists. Now before clicking and watching the two attached links, be warned that there is language, nudity and very sexually suggestive scenes that you are about to hear and view:

Now imagine you are a young teen who will watch and listen to one or both of these videos hundreds of times; each time compounding the visual, auditorial and subliminal information they are absorbing (usually with earphones on which heightens the auditory experience). What kind of messages, both overt and covert, are these two video sending to our tweens and teens about human sexuality and the treatment of women by men? What kind of messages, both overt and covert, are these two videos sending to young girls/women about how they are expected to act sexually towards men ?

With Internet access at an all time high with our kids, primarily because of mobile, we need to start paying more attention to what our kids are viewing and listening to on their devices, it’s more than just traditional on-line pornography that we should be concerned about, when it comes to healthy human sexuality. We need to have ongoing discussions with our kids about healthy human sexuality and healthy human relationships. If as parents we don’t take on this important responsibility, then we are leaving it to the entertainment industry, in all its forms, to take the lead, which is a recipe for disaster. Be their “Best Parent” and not their “Best Friend”